Two Grand Slam titles in 2006 and one of the most complete games in women's tennis — Amélie Mauresmo's serve, volleying ability and athletic court coverage made her the most complete woman player of the mid-2000s. Her journey to those titles was complicated by the sport's treatment of her openness about her sexuality, which she handled with a dignity that made her a trailblazer. Later became the first woman to coach a leading men's player — guiding Andy Murray at a senior level — and was appointed Fed Cup captain for France, demonstrating a second career of leadership equal to her playing achievements.
Amélie Mauresmo was born in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France in 1979 and turned professional in 1993, winning 2 Grand Slam singles titles — the Australian Open and Wimbledon in consecutive months in 2006 — and 25 WTA titles. She held the world number one ranking for 39 weeks. Her 2006 season — winning both Slams despite a reputation as an underachiever at the biggest moments — was the defining vindication of a career marked by talent and psychological difficulty under pressure. She won the WTA Finals in 2005 and was year-end number one in 2004. She came out as a lesbian in 1999 at the Australian Open — one of the most prominent athletes to come out publicly at the time — and faced significant prejudice from opponents and sections of the public during her career. She won Olympic silver at Athens in 2004. Her all-round game — powerful serve, excellent volley, versatile groundstrokes — made her effective on all surfaces. After retirement she coached Andy Murray from 2014 to 2016 — winning Wimbledon and the Australian Open together — becoming the first woman to coach a Grand Slam men's singles champion. She was later captain of the French Davis Cup team.
Australian Open 2006
Career Honours
- Australian Open 2006
- Wimbledon 2006
- Olympic Silver 2004 (Athens)
- Year-end No.1 2004
- WTA Finals 2005
- First openly gay world No.1 tennis player